Ruined Music - by Valentina Gnup (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In Ruined Music, the failures that come with living are redeemed by the lyricism, tenderness, and humor of their telling. Valentina Gnup says in one poem, "I want the rain to fall like petals / every morning across the thirsty world." The poems in this book seem to do just that.

Review Quotes

In Ruined Music the poet embraces the ruining with redemptive tenderness, fury, and humor. Divided into the four phases of any day-morning, afternoon, evening, midnight-these poems are alchemic, making of the ruin (relationships gone sour, lousy jobs, abusive religion, the burden of poverty) a testament to survival. These poems do what Nobel laureate Tomas Tranströmer said was his poetic aim: to be present, to use reality, to experience it, and to make something of it.

--Brad Davis, author of Trespassing on the Mount of Olives

Poet Valentina Gnup summons a full chord made from longing, grace, and awe. In this astonishing collection, we experience wonder and acceptance, desire and deliverance as if in real time; these poems breathe and dance. Deftly, Gnup sways with us through a songbook of the heart, hitting every note, the beautiful and the ruined. You will want to keep dancing, you will reach out for her long after.

- Brendan Constantine, author of Dementia, My Darling